Cancer Theorist Turned Down

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 385, 20 June 1928, Page 16

Cancer Theorist Turned Down

ADVERSE REPORT DOCTORS GIVE OPINIONS While admitting that the theories of laymen had been of immense importance to the medical profession, Dr. E. H. B. Milsom, chairman of the honorary medical staff of the Auckland Hospital, reported adversely on the cancer theory of Mr. F. R. Field yesterday. The honorary staff had passed unanimous resolutions dissociating itself from Mr. Field’s methods, and the board adopted the report and passed a vote of thanks to the staff for its investigations. A small committee, consisting of D.rs. Milsom, Maguire, Ludbrook, Gould and Johnston, had discussed the theory with Mr. Field, and on June 13 a largely attended meeting of the honorary staff was held to consider a summary of proposals signed by Mr. Field. The theorist himself was not called to the meeting. The following resolutions were sent to the board by the honorary staff; that the staff (1) Would support warmly any effort which it believes would tend to arrest the progress or cure of cancer. (2) Can only support consistently any lin© of treatment which it believes would be efficacious in either or both of these directions. (3) At present bases its treatment of cancer on the results obtained by scientific investigation, observation, and research, conducted in Britain, America and the Continent of Europe. (4) While respecting the sincerity of his views does not regard the treatment suggested by Mr. Field as being either fundamentally sound in conception, or helpful in application. (5) Believes, on the contrary, that where the most reasonable expectation of cure exists, the treatment advocated by Mr .Field would diminish the chances of recovery the longer it is persisted in. (6) Cannot therefore conscientiously identify itself in any way with the methods of Mr. Field. MR. FIELD’S METHODS The summary of Mr. Field’s methods submitted to the board included: (1) The exposure of patients to the early morning sun for, say, three hours after sunrise. (2) The administration of potassium in the form of bicarbonate of potash, with citric acid. (3) The administration of an infusion of horehound; and two others embodying a theory of electrical discharge, bedridden patients to be treated by means of a battery or some adjustment from the electric mains. % The chairman. Mr. W. Wallace, said that Mr. Field did not propose to treat patients himself, but he was asking the honorary staff to carry out his methods. He did not profess to be able to diagnose cancer himself. “We cannot ask the staff to carry Navy Nap Coat at Bert Marshall’s.

out his methods,,” continued Mr. Wallace. “Both Dr. Milsom and Dr. Maquire believe that Mr. Field is sincere in his wish, and I’m sure there is not one in the community who does not desire something to be done to cure this scourge.’ ELECTRIC THEORY Reporting on the interview, Dr. Milsom said that while Mr. Field’s idea was to restore potassium to the blood, some medical authorities had found that there was no deficiency but an excess of potassium in the blood of cancer patients. From researches in mathematics. Mr. Field had decided that the sun’s vital function was electrical. Interference between the electrical discharge from the human body to the earth stored up waste products and predisposed it to cancer. Mr. Field believed that the electrical changes came first and chemical changes were secondary. He had said that he judged the progress of patients by their “vitality and feeling of well being.” These might be unsafe signs. “There has been a feeling that Mr. Field has discovered something for posterity. It is true we cleared the air and satisfied the public,” said Mr. W. K. Howitt. The chairman congratulated the honorary staff on its investigation. It would be absurd to ask the staff to adopt methods in which it did no fc believe. Speaking on behalf of the medical staff and that “much-maligned body, the 8.M.A.,” Dr. Milsom said that the history of medicine contained many instances of discoveries having been made by laymen. “Anything which can be found out by laymen is readily adopted by the medical profession in the fight against disease,” he said.